Mixed feelings

[Zippity]

about tonight's result.

Coming back from two nil down away from home is a great effort and it sounds like we played a lot better than we did last Saturday. We've stopped the run of successive defeats and showed some character tonight, Plus, Rafa wasn't afraid to make changes, albeit the player who deserved to be in the starting lineup the least...started.

On the other hand, it's now one win in 8 and we needed an own goal to equalise against a struggling team and our front two are as impotent a striking partnership as I can remember.

Thoughts? Where does the positive/negative balance lie for you?

[Zippity]

3 similar threads...good to see folk posting, though.

[toptoon]

I'm feeling positive without question. We were sh*t first half but all over them in the last 30 minutes. That will have given the team confidence which must've been rock bottom after Saturday.


...shame it's Chelski next.......

[HughieG]

Yep, it's scary that we rely on our centre backs and opponents for scoring goals. It's not that we were unlucky for the most part today, we genuinely weren't creating chances and that is the worst sign of them all, overshadowing anything that was good for me.

[Jammy89]

We sounded ****.
We sounded like we didn't deserve it.

But

We stopped the rot.

I know we have Chelski next but i'm more positive than when the game started, simply because i think mentally the players will be in a different place now.

I also think that Mitro may have hopefully shown he can work in this system.

[HughieG]

We sounded ****.
We sounded like we didn't deserve it.

But

We stopped the rot.

I know we have Chelski next but i'm more positive than when the game started, simply because i think mentally the players will be in a different place now.

I also think that Mitro may have hopefully shown he can work in this system.

You and toptoon are both right that we ended things well tonight and that ought to bring a bit of confidence. We managed to stop the losing run.

Regarding Mitrovic, we have talked about it so much and seen it so many times now, it's getting fairly ridiculous. He needs to start him and drop Joselu, everything else is simply unfair. Even the most dedicated believer in Rafa - and I am one myself - have to admit that he's not seeing clearly with this.

[Cannylad]

Although Shelvey can be frustrating at times I still prefer him starting over Hayden, at least he has some vision and can change the game quickly, our tempo changed when he came on.

[Jammy89]

You and toptoon are both right that we ended things well tonight and that ought to bring a bit of confidence. We managed to stop the losing run.

Regarding Mitrovic, we have talked about it so much and seen it so many times now, it's getting fairly ridiculous. He needs to start him and drop Joselu, everything else is simply unfair. Even the most dedicated believer in Rafa - and I am one myself - have to admit that he's not seeing clearly with this.

I don't disagree in regards Mitro.

Either way it will sort the issue - he plays **** and does something stupid then it'll be seen why he's not getting played. He does well and we win, then it's 3 points etc.

[ghostrider]

Let's not hide away from the fact that we are abysmal.
We played MANAGERLESS West Brom and neither team could muster any attacking prowess.
We done what we always done and set out not to lose until we started to lose with the usual before half time killer goal.

The only positive I can take from this game is in the fact that we managed to nick a draw from what looked like a certain defeat against a terrible side. We could have actually won the game but that's by the bye.

I'd like to think we can take a lot of confidence from this but I don't actually see where.
I just hope that we get to January by nicking a good few points and then bringing in a few quality players that's needed because Rafa Benitez must make a striker and a decent number 10 his priority with maybe a left back added in for good measure and I think we'll easily get over the line.

[kingstonbob]

I had to rely on the radio as for some reason I couldn't get a stream? Given the scoreline to come back was excellent as in the past in similar situations we have shipped 3/4 goals. It should give them a bit of confidence and I was pleased to see Mbemba back. Chelsea is another free hit Luke Man U (hopefully not the same result) and then we have to target at least 4points from the two home games v Leicester and the scouse mackems.